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A Revolution made by the Humble and for the Humble

Cuban President Raul Castro gave the closing speech of the ceremony, held in eastern Santiago de Cuba , to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Triumph of the Cuban Revolution and he affirmed the meaning of the words by Fidel Castro, back in 1959, that the Revolution was that of the humble, made by the humble and for the humble.

The ceremony was held at the centrally located and historic Cespedes Plaza, where over 3 000 citizens gathered to attend the event and listen to the Cuban President, who said “we come together this January 1, 2009 with a Revolution that is stronger than ever before, a Revolution that has not yielded a single millimetre its principles, under unity and fully aware of our mistakes and inefficiencies and of the struggle that we have to wage against all wrong doing.”

The nearly-two-hour ceremony opened with the screening of the documentary film “Ode to the Revolution,” by Roberto Chile and included statements by representatives of different generations of Cubans. The speakers stressed the values of the Cuban revolutionary process; they included high school and university students, workers and renowned revolutionary combatant Asela de los Santos .

In his closing speech, Cuban President Raul Castro described the past fifty years as the most fruitful period in Cuban history.

Raul paid homage to Revolution leader Fidel Castro by saying that there are indispensable men, who can influence the course of history and Fidel is one of them, he said.

He called on young leaders to follow Fidel’s example and not to forget that the Cuban Revolution was made by the humble, with the humble and for the humble people. He warned that the enemy will always be aggressive, dominating and treacherous and he stressed that leaders must always be in close relations with workers, farmers and the people, otherwise –he stressed- leaders can end up powerless in the face of external and internal dangers and unable to preserve the work that stemmed from the blood and sacrifices of many generations of Cubans.

Raul Castro recalled the most recent Cuban history from the 1953 attack on the Moncada Garrison to date and he said that those who have been privileged to have lived this period of history know very well that Fidel was so right when in January 1959 he said that there was a long way to go and the perhaps everything would be even much more difficult.

The Cuban Head of State also referred to numerous aggressions and sabotage against Cuba , including the Bay of Pigs invasion, state terror that claimed 3,000 fatal victims, life attempts against Fidel Castro and other leaders and the murder of farmers, fishermen and students.

Over the past 50 years, all US administrations have tried to change the social system in Cuba by using more or less aggression, while resistance has been the response by the Cuban people all these years, said Raul and referred to firmness of the five Cubans who are unjustly incarcerated in US jails.

Referring to the upcoming 50 years, Raul Castro said that it will be a period of permanent struggle, and “we do not think it will be a period easier than the past one, due to the turmoil of today’s world”.

Over 3,000 Santiago citizens attended the central ceremony for the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, held in Santiago de Cuba.